Elevator apparatus



May 31, 1960 R. F. LOUGHRIDGE ELEVATOR APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 6, 1958 u M D T I NR H N U I O L 1 T W E B m I Y B 3 6 5 7 5 z B ma 9 I 6 3 9 7 ATTORNEY May 31, 1960 R. F. LOUGHRIDGE ELEVATOR APPARATUS4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1958 INVENTOR. ROBERT F. LOUGHRIDGEATTORNEY May 31, 1960 R. F. LOUGHRIDGE ELEVATOR APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed 001:. 6, 1958 INVENTOR.

ROBERT F. LOUGHRIDGE ATTOENEY United States Patent .0

. ELEVATOR APPARATUS Robert F. Loughridge, 2343 Winton Terrace W.,

Fort Worth, Tex.

Filed Oct. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 765,537

. 15 Claims. (Cl.18729) Myinvention relates to elevator apparatusandparticularly to apparatus, equipment, arrangements and mechanismespecially adapted for controlling elevators of the hydraulic lift type.

The general object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus andarrangements for controlling hydraulic elevators. 'More specifically, itis an object of my invention to provide elevator selector apparatuswhich is simple, reliable, easy to maintan, effective, and economical tomanufacture and install.

Another object of my invention is to provide elevator selector cam andcam mounting apparatus which is simple, reliable, effective, easy tomaintain, and economical to manufacture and install. I

Another object of my invention is to provide improved, simple, andeffective elevator selector cams and selector cam adjusting arrangement.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved elevator camstriker and switch actuator structure and arrangement.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description taken in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective orientation view showing an elevator utilizingthe various features of my invention in accordance with a preferredembodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partially fragmented, showing thecam and cam' mounting apparatus and arrangement in accordance with apreferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiveview showing the selectormountedto the upper'left backside of the elevator car sling;

Fig. 4 is a section view taken at line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of acam mounted between apair of cam support tapes;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of 5;:

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section-view taken at line VII VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the selectorapparatus in accordance with a preferred em, bodiment of my invention;

Fig- 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the stepping wheelportion of the'selector and its associated mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the assembled selector, partially in sectionand with the cover removed; V

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section view taken at line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of a selector switch andswitch actuator; i

Fig. 13 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of the switch actuatorof Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a por tion of a basiccontrol system; and,

2,938,603 Patented May 31, 1960 Fig. 15 is a schematic circuit diagramshowing another portion of a basic control system.

Referring now to the drawings, thereis shown in Fig. l a typicalelevator car 11 fitted and fixed within a conventional sling 13 made upof structural metal members including a pair of parallel, spaced channelmembers extending transversely across the top of the car and usuallyreferred to as the cross-head 15. The elevator is, of course, within ahatchway 17, which is fitted with the usual guide rails 19 centered onopposite sides thereof. The elevator is powered by a hydraulicjackhaving a plunger 21 the upper end of which is centered on and fixedto the underside of the sling 13. The plunger is extensible out of thejack cylinder (not shown) which is located and extends downward belowfirst floor level. The car sling 13 is held against laterallmovement bythe guide shoe assemblies 23, one of which is fixed between thecross-head members 15 adjacent each end thereof. The guide shoeassemblies may be of a convention type, forming no part of the presentinvention, and therefore will not be described in detail herein. Theguide shoe assemblies of course are adapted for cooperation with theguide rails 19. v

The primary features of the present invention involve the selectorassembly and the selector cam and tape assembly. The selector assemblyis contained within a housing which may be about 4 /2 inches square and14% inches long.' The housing may be made longer if required by thenumber of floors to be served. The selector housing includes a chassisportion 25 and a cover 27 (see Fig. 3). A bracket (not shown) isadjustably fixed to the lower side of one cross-head member 15.

adjacent its end, and the selector assembly chassis 25 is fixed to thebracket by means of bolts (not shown) inholes 29. The selector assemblyincludes two sub-assemblies, namely, a stepping wheel sub-assembly 31and a control switch sub-assembly 33. sub-assembly includes a steppingwheel 35 which rotatesv a cam shaft 37 on which there is mounted a cam39 for each floor to be served by the elevator, and a switch 41associated with each cam 39. The control switch subassembly 33 includesfour control switches 43, which are herein termed the down-stop switch,the up-stop switch,

the down-level switch, and the re-level switch.

Cooperating with the selector assembly, is the selector cam and camsupport assembly, which includes a plurahty of tapes 51, upper and'lower tape support brackets 53, 55, a tension spring 57 for each tape,downstop cams, up-stop cams 61, down-level cams 63, re- 67. The tapelevel earns 65, and stepping wheel cams support brackets 53, 55 eachcomprise a main member 69 (seeFig. 4), four spacers 71, .a pair of clampplates 73, and a hanger member 75. The parts of the tape supportbrackets are made of flat steel bar material.

The main member 69 in each case lies fiat against the back side of theguide rail 19 at one end portion, and extends outwardly from the guiderail and perpendicular to it. The clamp plates 73 each contact the frontside of the guide rail flanges 77. A bolt 79 through each clamp plate73, spacer 71, and main member 69 causes the main member in each case tobe clamped securely and rigidly to the guide 'rail 19. The hanger ineach case is held in spaced relation to the free end portion and onthefront side of the main member by means of a bolt 81 ateach end, whichbolt passes through the hanger, a spacer 71, and the main member 69. Theupper hanger is provided with upturned hooks 83 spaced longitudinally ofthe hanger at intervals which will provide the desired tape spacing. Thelower hanger is pro vided with holes 85 which are spaced longitudinallyat the' same intervals as the hooks 83; The'upper tape" The steppingwheel 7 support bracket 53 should be mounted on the rail 19 at a pointabout three feet below the crosshead 15 when the car 11 is at the lowestlanding. In the usual installation, there are six tapes required, aswill be hereinaftermore fully explained. The tapes 51 may be ordinarycommercial banding-tape of the type commonly used in packaging heavy.items for shipment A com mercial type banding tape about one half inchwide by about 4 inch thick, having a corrosion resistant; coat ing, hasproved satisfactory for the purposes of 'rny invention. The tapes 51 areeach 'precut'to the length required for a particular installation andhave a hole punched adjacent each end. Each tape is packaged in a rollfor shipment to the installation'site. At installation the free'e'ndofthe tape of each roli is hooked to a' corresponding hook 83 on the uppertape srippiort bracket hanger, and the. tapes are; uni-oiled"down theelevator hatchway. A tension spring 57 is provided tor. each tape 51.Each tension spring 57 is simply a he l.- ical coil spring having a hooko n each Springs having an overall length of about 6 inches at rest witha tension of approximately five pounds per inch have been found to, besatisfactory in practice. Each spring 57 is hooked at its lower end in ahole 85 of the lower hanger and at its upper end in.the hole in thelower end of a respective tape 51. TheIlewer tape support bracket, 55 isreadily adjusted on the rail 19 to accomplish the desired degree. ofspring tensioning, The; degree of spring, tensionis not critical;however, it is desirable that the springs. be tensioned justsufliciently to positively space the lower ends of the tapes 1 andprevent. any of them from swinginglloosely. The spring tensioningarrangement compensait v for minor differencesin tape lengths, makin'gitunnecessary that the set of tapes for a particular installation be cutto precise- 1y the same length.

There is provided a set of cams for. each floor level. Each setwillnormally consist of a. stepping wheel cam 67,.down-stop. cam 59, up-stopcam 61, 'dowmlevel cam 63, and re-levelcam 65. The downstop, tip-stop,downlevel and re-levelcams are all identical, except forlength. Thedown-stop, up-stop, andfre-level cams may have a length of aboutQS.inches overall. Theovlerall length of the down-leveljcam 63 will dependupon maximum down carspeed; for a down car speed of 150. feetfper minutethis overall length should. be aboutf26v inches. These cams arepreferablymade ofmaterial to the; trade as Formica, whichfis a toughhard laminar-structure of paper or clothand a phenolic resin. TheFormica usedfis" about' 4 inch thick and is cut in strips, about 1%.inches wide' Each cam, is made. up o f a pairof identical Formica pieces 87,- 8 9. (seeEigs. 5, 6 and 7) placcdback to back. Eachcampieceihasaoneto four flat taper 91 at each end (see Fig. 6), or in; other words,

thecam surface istaperedfroma line beginning one inch from] the. end .onone, side to a line, containing. the end onthe other side. OnecampieceSilis provided with fourholes which are drilled and countersunk, whilethe other carn, picce 87.has .four: corresponding holes which aredrilled and tapped. These holes are arranged in pairs, with each pairlona lineperpendicular to the cam lengthand located about twoinches-fromthe end of the cam piece. Each holeis located so that itsouter edge is substantially inch from theside edgeof thecam piece;Eachpainof cam pieces 87, 89 .is-clamped .toge'thei' by means of serews9 4 in the holes. It is ap-. parenti that the provision oi'and thelocation of clamping screws 9'4 makes it easy to give the tapes properspacing and alignment in assembly. Also, the sets of camsclamped tothetapes greatly enhances the; lateral stability of the tape and camassembly, A representative set of cams is shown in ,placeonthe tapes 51in Fig. 6." If the tapes are considered as being numbered oneto sirtrorn rightto leftin .Pfig. 6, then. .the cambetween tapes 1 and 2 isthe re-level cam 65; between tapes 2 and 3 is the down-level cam 63;between tapes 3 and 4 is the up-stop cam 61; and between tapes 4 and 5is the down-stop cam 59. The various cams are clamped onto the tapes 51in the approximate proper position after the tapes are installed, andthen finally adjusted when the elevator is in actual running condition,as will be hereinafter more fully explained. It is apparent that thecams may be easily and readily adjusted up or down on the tapes, andthat they also serve to hold the tapes in proper spacing alignment. Itshould be noted also that there is a simple one to one ratio betweencant linear adjustment and elevator movement. The step ping wheel cams67 are each made up of a pair of Formica half-round bars about one halfinch in diameter and clamped between tapes 5 and 6 by means of screws.

Tmning new to the selector assembly and referring partic larly toFigures 8, 9 and 10, it will be seen that the seleotorchassis 25- is asingle. piece of sheet metal having a bottom 93, and a back 95, with afront flange 97 extending upwardly from the bottom front edge, and. witha top flange 99 extending forwardly from the back top edge; The selectorassembly-cover, also made ofv sheet metal, has atop 1.01, a side 103,andends Hi5. The cover 27, fits; onto the chassis 2 5.forming a closed,rectangular, box housing, the cover being removably fixed to theohassisby means ofsheet metal, screwsv (not shown) which passthroughaligned holes 10"], 109 in, the cover top and the chassis top flange,and through holesv 111-, 113 in the chassis front flange which matchslots in the lpwer edgeofthe cover side 103. A pair or. identical sbstantially rectangular control. switch assembly sup port plates 115,117 are fixed in spaced parallel relation tqthe back and bottorn 93 ofthc chassis 25. One plate 11 7 i s in a plane which passesthrough thechassis back and bottom and perpendicular thereto and adjacent therightend thereof (asseen in Fig. 6), while the other plate'is in a plane.spaced from the first a distance by a distance substantially equal tothe width of the con trol switch subassembly 33. v

The control switch sub-assembly as hereinbefore mentioned includes fourswitches 43 arranged side, by. side witheach pair of adjacentswitchesheld" apart by a rectangular spacer block 121. The spacer blocksarepreferably made ot Formica andthe same width as the switche s, Apair ofspaced parallel holes 123 extend through assembly of switches and spacerblocks, the as sernbly being mounted between the. support plates 1.15,

1 1 7;with a pairot' rods,12 5 passing through aligned holes 127 in theplates and through thesaid spaced parallel holes. 123 M the, assembly 33The rods 125,-arc threaded at their end portions and nuts 129are-threaded ontn the rods to holghthe control switch sub-assemblyfirmly in position, Each control -switchdli is. provided: with anactuator arm 131 to the end portion of which there is nt daa ac uat r ieima h has k 95 is provided with a first rectangular opening 135wliichcxtends j'thQdiS iZtllQfibQiWflED the support plates 115, 117 inwidth and is just. higher than-the length of a switch. When the controlswitch sub-assembly 33 is mounted in position on-the chassis 25, theswitch actuator arms.131 andla ctuator. pieces 133 extend through theopening 135. The details and functions of the control switches-43 willhereinafter be more .fully explained.

As hereinbefore. mentioned, the'stepping wheel assembly 31 includes thestepping wheel 35, a plurality of earns 39, a cam shaft 37, and aplurality of switches 41, There is acam and a switch for each floor tobe served bythe elevator, the assembly shown being, for a six-fioorinstallation. The, assembly is supported on-the chassis by steppingwheel assembly support member 137inthe form of a..wide -sheet metalstrip formedin Ushape and having a baclc139, a right side 1511. and aleft sidel43, theright side beiagahjacent the 'st'epping'wheel'f-asshown in the drawings," Thesupportfmeniber 137;i sfixed atits back- 139to the left side of thef chassis back 95 by means of bolts (not shown)passed through holes 145 in the chassis 'back 'rnatching holes 147 inthe support member back 139,

so the support member sides'141', 143 extend forwardly of the chassisback '95. The earn shaft 37 is simply a rod, having it turned downportion 149 at one end, which portion receives a positioning; gear 151.The position ing gear is a short length of' six 'toothgear rod whichmakes a pressed fit on the turneddown portion-149 of the cam-shaft 37.The stepping wheel 35 and the cams-39 are made of, Formica, 'pfef erablya cloth base type. The cams 3 9 are identical, each being in the form ofa short cylinder which may be'about V2 inch long and one inch indiameterfandf each having a transverse notch 153 cut into its peripheralsurface. 'Each cam 39 is further provided with-an axial opening 155 tofitthe cam shaft 37, as well as a threaded radial opening 157communicating with the 'axial opening and with the cam peripheralsurface. The "stepping wheel 35 is;in the form of short cylinder havingintegral rectangular projections 159 extending radially outward fromits'peripheral surface, the projections being 60 apart and-six innumber. The width of the projections and length of the cylinder may beabout /z inch, withrthe cylinder diameter being about 1% inches, thelength of theprojections being about inch, and their thickness about 4inch. The stepping wheel 35 is provided with an axial opening 161 to fitthe cam shaft, and a threaded radial opening 163 communicating betweenthe axial opening and the peripheral surface of the cylinder; A pair ofaligned holes 165 are provided, one in each side of the support member139, which holes are sized to receive and provide bearing support forthe cam shaft 37. The cam shaft is journalled :on nylon bearings whichare supported in the holes 165. These holes 165 are located atthe upperrear regionof each side 141, 143, sothat the cam shaft 37 will beparallel to the chassis back 95, and the cams 39 and stepping wheel 35will be properly located, as will be hereinafter more fully described. vIn assembly,a spacer washer 167 .is placed on the cam shaft 37 adjacentthe pos'itioninggear 151, then the. shaft 37 is inserted in thebearing(not shown) through the bearing hole 165 in the left side 143, then thecams 39 are placedcn the shaft, then the shaft is inserted in thebearing (not'shown) through'the. bearing hole 165 in the right side141,;then a second spacer washer 169 is placed on the shaft, followed bythestepping wheel. The cams 39 and the stepping wheel 35 are fixed indesired position on the shaft by means of set screws .171 inserted inthe radial threaded openings 1 57, 163. The chassis back 95 is providedwith a rectangular opening 173 of sufiicient width and height to allowthe stepping wheel 35 to protrude throughthe chassis back 95. Eachswitch 41 of the stepping wheel sub-assembly 33 is provided with anactuator armf1175' which mounts an actuatorroller 177 at its end. Eachswitch 41 is .also provided withv transversely extending parallelmounting holes 179 adjacent its rear side. A rectangular Formica spacer18 1 is provided between each switch. Each spacer has mounting holes 183aligned with the switch mounting'holes 179 and located so that thespacer. 181 will extend about /2 inch rearwardly of the switch 41. Thesupport member 137 is also. provided with holes .185 in 'each sidevwhich align withithe switch andspacer'holes 179, 183 so that the switchassembly, 33,wil1 be held in proper relation to the cams 39. Inassembly, a pair of rods 187, threaded at their end portions, are passedthrough the respective aligned holes of.. the support member 137,switches 41, and spacers 18'1, and the switch assembly 33' is clampedbetween ,the support sides 141, 143 by nuts 189 on the rod. ends,drawnup against the respective support membersides. H u

about 7 piece 133 is not in contact All of the switches 41, 43 in theselector assembly are of a conventional commerciallyavailable type andknown to the trade as Micro-switches. Such switches are characterized bythe fact that the switch contacts will snap from open to closed positionand vice versa within a very small range of actuator arm movement. Theswitches used inthe selector are of the single pole, double throwvariety having a lead from each fixed contact and one from the moveablecontact brought out to respective terminals 191 at the back of theswitch. The actuator arm 131 is pivoted on a fulcrum at the lower frontof the switch, so that its free end, and the actuator roller 177 oractuator piece 133 are at the upper front portion of the switch. Theactuator arm 131 is biased outwardly from the switch front by a helicalcompression spring 193. For the case of the stepping wheel sub-assemblyswitches 41, the normally closed contact is used, while for the case ofthe control switches 43, the normally open contact is used. The actuatorrollers 177 of the stepping wheel sub-assembly switches 41, of courseride on the periphery of the associated cams 39. This means that at alltimes except when a roller is within a cam notch 153, the switchactuator arm 131 is held so that the contact being used is in the openposition, and closes when the actuator arm is released into the camnotch. The sides of the cam notches 153 extend radially, with theincluded angle being and the base of the notch extends tangentially andis about A inch long. The switch actuator rollers are A inch indiameter.

For the case of the control switches 43, the contacts used are openexcept when cammed to the closed position. The actuator piece 133 forthe control switches 43 is made of Formica, designated by themanufacturer as type CH-93, which has a cloth or fabric base and isgraphite impregnated. The actuator piece has a generally triangularshape, with a notch 195 at the base and with the apex rounded. Theactuator piece 133 is mounted at the end of the actuator arm 131 bymeans of a U shaped bracket 197, with the bracket base being bradded tothe arm, and the piece being clamped between the bracket sides by a brad199 extending through the bracket sides and the piece. A small block orpad of felt material 201 is interposed and clamped between the notch 195in the actuator piece base and the actuator arm 131, so that the withthe arm. The felt pad 201 serves a double function as a sound deadenerand as a lubricant reservoir. The combination of the pad 201 and piece133 makes the camming action of the piece and its associated camessentially noiseless.

The cams 39 of the stepping wheel assembly 31 are positively andaccurately positioned at each step by coaction of the positioning gear151and a spring biased roller device 203. This device (see Fig. 11)includes a pair of spaced parallel rollers 205 journalled on shafts 207carried by fork members 209 which are fixed to respective arms 211 whichare pivoted on a strap mounting bracket 213 and which are biased towardeach other by a spring (not shown). The mounting'bracket 213 is fixed tothe left end 143 of the stepping wheel assembly support member 137 bymeans of screws 215 in holes 217 beneath the cam shaft 37. The rollers205 of the positioning device 203 seat'themselves between pairs ofadjacent teeth on opposite sides of the positioning gear 151 each timethe stepping wheel 35 moves to a different step, thus providing the camshaft 37 with six discrete and precise positions, so that the steppingwheel 35 will always cause the proper switch 41 to be actuated at theproper time.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the selector assembly is mounted toa' bracket(not shown), which is adjustably fixed to the lower side of onecross-head member 15 adjacent the end thereof. The position oftheselector chassis 25 is adjusted so that the actuator arms 131 of thecon trol switches 43, and the stepping wheel 35, aresubstantiallycentered between the respective pairs of tapes 51-,

and so that the control switch actuator pieces 133 and the steppingwheel projections. 159 have the desired degree of spacing from theirassociated cams. Aback-UP member 219 in the form of a flanged sheetmetal channel is fixed to the back 95 of the selector chassis25 by meansof bolts 221 through holes 223 in the member flanges and in the chassisback 95, after the selector assembly has been positioned. Theback-up'mem'ber 219 together with a portion of the chassis back 95,forms-aguideway for the tapes 51 and carris. The opposing surfacesoftheguideway are padded with belting material 225. Three-ply cottonbelting'material has been found to be satisfactory for the purpose. Thespace between "the opposing pad surfaces may be about /8 inch, and thelength of the guideway may be about 8 /2 inches. When a carnenters theguideway it will be-backed up by the back-up member 219 so that itcannot move away from the actuatorpiece 133 or stepping wheel 35 beyonda desirable distance. The guideway also-acts to'dampany tendency of'thetapes 51 to develop excessive swaying motion 'and keeps the tapeassembly laterally centered. Wiring conductors .227 are brought from theterminals 191 of the selector switches into a conduit 229 which isattached to the selector chassis bottom 93 and extends to an appropriateterminal box.

The relation of the control switches 43 and the stepping wheel switches41 to the elevator-control system is shown in simplified schematic form'by Figures 1-4 and 15. In Fig. 14 there is shown a power bus 231 (whichmaybe connected to a conventional 220 volt source, not shown) having oneside common and grounded at233. The control switches are connected inseries with the operating coils of respective relays across the bus.These relays, represented by blocks 235, 237, 239, 241, may betermed theup-stop, down-stop, re-levcl, and down-level relays, being actuated by arespective control switch of the corresponding designation. Each relaymay have a number of contacts depending upon the relative complexity ofthe specific elevator system. The up-stop and down-stop relays each haveone set of contacts connected in the stopstart circuit of an electricmotor 243 which is mechanically coupled to drive a hydraulic pump 245.The contacts are arranged so that the motor circuit will be opened wheneither the up-stop switch or the down-stop switch is actuated to theclosed position. The pump hydraulic output is connected via a conduit tothe elevator jack 247. The output hydraulicline of the jack isconnectedthrough a main valve 249, designated as Vm to a reservoir251.the output line of which is connected .to the pumpinput. The main valveis bypassed by a levelling valve 253, designated V1.

In Fig. 15 thereis'shown apower bus 231 (which may be connected to aconventional 220 volt source, not shown) having one side common andgrounded at 233. The stepping wheel switches 41 (some of which are notshown, for simplicity) are each connected in series with the operatingcoil of a respective stepping switch relay 255 across the bus. There isone relay for each floor to be served by the elevator system. Theserelays are represented by blocks designated R1 through R6. Each steppingwheel relay 255 may have a number of contacts depending upon thespecific system with which they are used. The relays are shown connectedto a block 257 labelled position indication, since that is their primaryfunction. For example, they may among other things operate lights behindthe flow indicator strip in the elevator car. A stepping wheel relay 255is energized when the corresponding stepping wheel switch 41 is cammedto the closed position.

For preliminary settings the cams which are fixed to the tapes 51 shouldbe set so that (with the-elevator car at floor level) the lower ends ofthedown-stop and down-level cams 59, 63 should be about 18 inches and 2inches, respectively, above the selector control switch actuator pieces133, while the upper ends of the tip-stop and re-levcl earns 61, shouldbe about 2 inches and 8 inches, respectively, below theselector controlswitch actuator pieces- The stepping wheel earns 67 should be locatedabout halfway between adjacent landings and need not be furtheradjusted, since their exact location is not critical. Final adjustmentsof the tape/mounted cams are made with the elevator in actual operation.As hereinbefore stated, these cams are readily adjustable up or down thetapes, and there is a simple one-toone ratio between cam linearadjustment and elevator movement.

In operation in a typical elevator system utilizing my invention, firstassume that the car 11 is moving up toward a pro-selected floor level,in which case the pump motor 243 is running and both the main valve Vm249 and the levelling valve VI 253 are closed. As the car moves up thehatchway the stepping wheel 35 will be actuated by the stepping wheelcam 67 for each floor level passed, thus in each case actuating theappropriate stepping wheelswitch 41 which in'turn energizes thecorresponding relay 255, the contacts of which set up various carposition indication functions. As the car approaches the preselectedfloor the re-level cam 65 will actuate the re-levcl control switch, butnothing will happen since the motor circuit is already closed. Next, theup-stop cam 61 will actuate the up-stop control switch, which will setup a'time-delay circuit (not shown) to lock out there-level circuits fora short time (usually about five seconds) and also open the motorcircuit, causing the car to coast upward. Next, the down-level cam 63will actuate the down-level control switch to open the levelling valve253. The momentum of the car will cause it to continue its upward travelsufiiciently far for actuation of the down-level control switch andslightly beyond, then the car will drift downward at a slow speed untilthe down-level control switch actuator piece goes sufliciently oflt' itsassociated cam 63 to actuate the switch to the open position, causingthe levelling valve 253 to close, stopping the car smoothly at thepre-selected floor level. If for any reason the car should driftdownward below the floor level, then the re-level cam 65 will actuatethe re-level switch, which will start the motor 243, moving the carupward again, and the stopping and down-levelling operation will berepeated.

Now, asume that the car is traveling downward toward at pre-selectedvfloor, Under these conditions, the motor circuit would be open and boththe main valve Vm and the levelling valve V1 would be open. Then as thecar approaches the pre-selected floor, the down-stop cam 59 will actuatethe down-stop switch to close the main valve 249, unlock the levellingvalvecircuit, and set up a locking circuit-to keep the main valve closeduntil the car is ready to start a descent to a lower floorv level. Next,the down-level cam 63 will-actuate the down-level switch, but nothinghappens, since the levelling valve 253 is already open. The cardecelerates and drifts at reduced speed until the actuator piece of thedown-level switch moves off the lower end of the down-level cam 63,causing the levelling valve Vl to close, stopping the car at thepre-selected floor level. If for any reason the car should drift pastthe pro-selected floor level, then the re-level cycle will occur ashereinbefore described. Of course the stepping wheel 35 will beperiodically actuated in elevatordescent to accomplish positionindication as hereinbefore described.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the elevator selector camand cam mounting apparatus and the elevator selector "apparatus of myinvention is simple, reliable, eifective, easy to install and maintain,and economical to manufacture. It is to be understood that dimensionsgiven, and the materials named, in the foregoing description'of aspecific embodiment of the invention, are for illustrative purposesonly. It is further to be understood that specific elevator controlsystem described in elementary form herein is by way of exspasms 9an'iplev only; and a that various control systems i'alresdy w'ellknownto. those skilled in the art could be used with the apparatus'ofmyinvention. "It'is apparentthat the apparatus of my invention may be usedwith elcctric as Well as hydraulic elevators. Y

.While I have shown my invention in only one form, it will be obvious.to those skilled in the art that it' is not so limited, but issusceptible of various changes an dmodi fications without'departing'from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

ll. Apparatus for mounting cams in an elevatorhatchway which cams are toactuate selector mechanism fixed to the elevator car, said apparatus"comprising a plurality of tapes which are relatively stifif indirections laterally of their width and relatively flexible indirections laterally of their thickness, each tape being of lengthgreater than maximum elevator car travel, means for suspending saidtapes in spaced parallel relation within said elevator hatchway, springmeans for individually tensioning said tapes, a plurality of-camsmounted between adjacent tapes and fixed theretoin' operativerelationship relative to said selector mechanism.

2. Apparatus for mounting cams in an elevator hatchway which cams are toactuate selector mechanism fixed to the elevator car,said apparatuscomprising a plurality of 'tapes made of fiat metal banding material, anupper tape mounting bracket, a lower tape mounting bracket means holdingone end of said tapes on one of said brackets, a tensioning spring heldat one end to the other end of each respective tape, with the free endsof said springs being held on said other bracket, said tapes being heldin spaced parallel relation with their flat sides lying substantially ina common plane, and a plurality of cams mounted between adjacent tapesand clamped thereto.

3. Apparatus for mounting cams in an elevator hatchway which cams are toactuate selector mechanism fixed to the elevator car,sa=id apparatuscomprising a plurality of tapes made of flat metal banding material,upper and lower brackets each adjustably mounted to ahatchway guide railand extending outwardly therefrom, means holding the upper ends ofrespective tapes at spaced intervals on said upper bracket, a tensionspring fixed to the lower end of eachsaid tape, means holding the lowerend of respective springs at spaced intervals on said lower bracket,saidtapes being held in spaced parallel'relation with'their'flat sides lyingsubstantiallyin a common plane which is parallel to the adjacent carside, and a plurality of cams mounted betweenadjacent tapes and clampedthereto". f i '4. Elevator selector cam and cam mounting apparatuscomprising upper and lower brackets adjustably mounted on an elevatorguide r'ailadjace'nt upper and lower ends of the rail and extendingoutwardly therefrom, a plurality of tapes made of flat metal bandingmaterial, means holding one end of said respective tapes at spacedintervals on one of said brackets, a respective tensioning spring fixedat one end to the other end of each said tape, means holding the otherends of said springs at spaced intervals on said other bracket, saidtapes being held in spaced parallel relation with their flat sides lyingsubstantially in a common plane, and a plurality of cams, each said camcomprising a pair of symmetrical elements placed in back-to-backrelation and clamped between a pair of adjacent tapes.

5. Elevator selector cam and cam mounting apparatus comprising a pair oftapes in the form of flat metalbanding material, means holding saidtapes in spaced parallel relation longitudinally of an elevator hatchwaywith the flat sides of said tapes lying substantially in a common plane,a plurality of cams, each said cam comprising a pair of substantiallyidentical pieces of rectangular material slightly wider than the spacingbetween said tapes, each said piece having smooth flat front and backfaces, each said piece being tapered from its front face to its backface at each end, and means for clamp-' ing said pieces back-to-backbetween said tapes.

6."Elevator camand cam mounting apparatus comprising a plurality oftapes in the form of flat metal band-.

ing material, means holding said tapes at each end thereof in spacedparallel relation with the fiat sides of said tapes lyingsubstantially'in a common plane, a plurality of cams clamped betweeneach adjacent pair of tapes and located at "spaced longitudinalintervals thereon, each said cam comprising a pair of substantiallyidentical pieces of flat strip material having a smooth front face and aalignment is obtained at each cam location.

7. An elevator selector assembly comprising a chassis having a back anda bottom, a control switch sub-assembly comprising a plurality ofswitches juxtaposed with a spacer block between adjacent switches, witheach said switch having an actuator arm and a cam actuator piece fixedto the end portion of said arm, spaced support means fixed to said backand extending forwardly therefrom, a pair of rods extending through saidswitches and spacer blocks andfixed at their end portions to saidsupport means, said actuator arms and cam actuator pieces ex tendingthrough an opening in said back, a stepping wheel sub-assemblycomprising mounting means fixed to said back 'andjhaving end piecesextending forwardly therefrom, ,a cam shaft journalled on said mountingmeans and extending parallel to and adjacent said back, a plurality ofstepping wheel cams mounted on said shaft between said end pieces, a'stepping wheel mounted on said shaft on the outside of one of said endpieces and extending through an opening in the back of said chassisadjacent said first mentioned opening, a shaft positioning devicemounted on said shaft outside the other of said end pieces, a pluralityof stepping wheel switches juxtaposed and each having an actuatorarmmounting a roller,

a pair of rods passing through s'aid'switches and said end pieces andfixed to said end pieces so that respective stepping wheel switchrollers cooperate with respective stepping wheel cams. c

8. A stepping wheel sub-assembly for an elevator selector comprisingsupport, means including spaced end pieces, a cam shaft journalled onsaid end pieces, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft, one for eachfloor to be served by the elevator, a plurality of juxtaposed switches,one for each cam, each said switch having an actuator arm spring biasedaway from said switch mounting a roller at its end portion, meansmounting said switches between said end pieces so that each rollerengages a respective cam, each said cam being in the form of a shortcylinder having a notch in its roller engaging surface allowing saidroller to move radially inwardly toward said cam shaft to actuate itsrespective switch, means for adjustably fixing each said cam to said camshaft with the notches distributed at substantially equal angles aboutsaid shaft, a stepping wheel mounted on one end of said cam shaft on theoutside of one said end piece, said stepping wheel having a radialprojection for eadl said cam, said projections spaced at equal radialangles about said shaft, a cam shaft positioning device comprising agear fixed on said cam shaft at the end opposite said stepping wheel,said gear having a tooth for each said cam, a spring biased rollermounted to the end piece adjacent said gear and riding on the peripheryof said gear, whereby said cam shaft will be stopped .at a predetermineddiscrete position each time after saidstepping wheel is actuated.

'9. Elevator selector and selector cam apparatus comprising a pluralityof tapes .in the form of flat metal banding-material, means mountingsaid tapes in an elevator hatchway and holding said tapes at each endthereof in spaced parallel relation with the fiat sides of said tapeslying substantially in a common plane, a plurality of cams clampedbetween each adjacent pair of tapes andlocated at spaced longitudinalintervals thereon, each said cam having smooth fiat front and rear faceswhich are tapered at each end'to the plane of the tapes, aselectorchassis-mounting a-plurality of devices to be actuated by saidcams, .said devices including actuators ,,Protruding through an .openingin the .backof said chassis, means mounting said chassis .in fixedrelation to the elevator car and with said protruding actuators in,predetermined spaced relation with respect to the normal plane of saidtapes, and atape and cam assembly guideway and'bacl-Gup piece fixed tothe back of. said chassis and presenting a plane surface parallel to andspaced from said chassis back .a distance such that when the rear faceof a cam passing through the guideway is in contact with said surface,the front face of saidcam is properly positioned with respect to thecorresponding selector actuator.

10. An elevator selector control switch actuator and actuator piece of atype wherein said actuator piece is adapted for sliding movement on acam surface, comprising an actuator arm pivoted adjacent one end on aswitch body, means spring biasing said actuator arm in thedirection awayfrom said body, an actuator piece made of laminated sheets in a phenolicresin base and impregnated with graphite, said-actuatorpiece having abase side adjacent said actuator arm and acam surface opposite saidbase, a notch in said base side, a felt pad in said notch, and meansfixing said actuator piece to the free end portion of said actuator armwith said pad interposed between said base and said arm.

11. An elevator selector control switch actuator and actuator piece of atype wherein'said actuator piece is adapted for periodic slidingmovement on acam surface, comprising an actuator arm fixed to .a switchbody and spring biased in thedirection away from thes witch body, anactuator piece made of graphiteimpregnated material, said actuator piecehaving a base side adjacent said actuator arm and a cam :surfaceopposite said base side, means fixing said actuator piece to.saidactuatorarm, and a pad of oil-absorbent .material clamped betweenthe base of said actuator piece and saidactuatorarrn.

'12. Apparatus for mounting'camsinian elevator.'hatchway which cams areto actuate selectormechanismtfixed' totheielevator-car, said-apparatuscomprising a plurality of T tapes which are :relatively stiff in:directions laterally of theiriwidth and relatively .flexible indirections laterally of thcir'thickness, each tape being .of lengthgreater than maximum elevator car travel, meansfor suspending said tapesinnspaced parallel relation within said elevator hatchwa'y, means fortensioning said tapes, and a plurality-tofcams mounted between adjacenttapes andfixed thereto in operative relationship relative to saidselector mechanism.

13. Apparatus formounting cams in an elevator hatchway which cams are:to actuate selector mechanism fixed tothe-elevator 'car, .saidapparatus comprising a plurality of tapes which are relatively stiff indirections laterally of their width and relatively flexible indirections laterally of their thickness, each tape being of lengthgreater than maximum elevator .car travel, means .for suspending saidtapes vin .spaced parallel relation within .said elevator hatchway,spring .means for individually tensioning said tapes, a plurality ofcams mounted between adjacent tapes, each :said cam comprising a pair ofsymmetrical elements placed in back-to-back relation and fixed between apair of adjacent tapes.

14. Apparatus for mounting cams in an elevator hatchway which cams aretoactuate selector mechanism fixed to the elevator car, said apparatuscomprising a plurality of tapes which arerelatively stiff in directionslaterally of their width and relatively flexible in directionslaterallyof their thickness, each tape being of length greater than maximumelevator car travel, means for suspending said tapes in spaced parallelrelation within said elevator hatchwa-y, means for tensioning saidtapes, a plurality of cams mounted between adjacent tapes, .each saidcam comprising a pair of elements placed in back-to-back relation andfixed between apair of adjacent tapes.

15. Apparatus for mounting cams in an elevator hatchway which cams areto actuate selector mechanism fixed to the elevator car, said apparatuscomprising a plurality oftapes which are relatively stiff in directionslaterally of their width and relativelyflexible in directions laterallyof their thickness, each tape being of length greater than maximumelevator car travel, means for suspending said tapes in spaced parallelrelation within said elevator hatchway, spring means for individuallytensioning said tapes, a pluralityof .carns, each said cam comprising apair'of substantially identical pieces of rectangular ma terial slightlywider than the spacing between said tapes, each said piece having-smoothflat front and back faces, each said piece being taperedfrom its .front.face to .its back face at each end, .andmeansforfixing .saidpieces'backvto-back between said tapes.

No references cited.

